Didi Hamann says Man City look like they’re playing with ten men because of Erling Haaland.
The former City midfielder joined talkSPORT to double down on recent claims Haaland does not suit Pep Guardiola’s playing style.
Haaland has been in sensational goalscoring form since arriving from Borussia Dortmund last summer.
The Norwegian has netted 31 goals in 32 games across all competitions and is on hand to break a host of scoring records before the end of the season.
Despite his prolific run of form, Hamann has pinpointed flaws in City’s game this season, coinciding with the 22-year-old’s arrival.
“With Haaland in the team, they [City] don’t dominate teams as they used to do,” Hamann exclusively told talkSPORT.
“They used to suffocate teams with possession, creating chances. The thing that worries me is that with Haaland – and the game at the weekend where they were winning and the same happened yesterday – when they play on the counter attack and are able to use his pace, they can’t get him in the game.
“That what worries me most at the moment about City.”
Haaland’s arrival was heralded as the missing component for City to claim an ever-elusive first Champions League crown.
But at a closer glance, some believe the Norwegian has not improved Pep Guardiola’s side and Hamann is in agreement, insisting the striker is not suited to the Spaniard’s philosophy.
“There’s a question of whether he does make the team better? He’s a brilliant player, it’s not a criticism he’s a brilliant player he already showed it,” the former City midfielder added.
“Last season, when everyone said he’s going to City, I said ‘he’s not going to go to City because Haaland is everything City’s not’.
“Maybe you can say he’s the missing piece of the jigsaw but he’s used to football in Salzburg and Dortmund which is so much different from the one City plays.
“It’s just not possible because Guardiola’s philosophy is he wants to pass the ball, he wants to suffocate teams with possession and dominance and they just won’t do it with him because half the time I watch him, it’s like playing with ten men.”
Source: talksport.com
